On 24th February 2013 His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, conducted the first Patriarchal Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Bujumbura, together with His Eminence Jonah Metropolitan of Kampala and His Grace Innokentios Bishop of Burundi and Rwanda.
Present at the Eucharistic Synaxis were Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of Egypt, Russia and Belgium, His Eminence the Catholic Archbishop of Bujumbura, the entire Hellenic Community as well as crowds of African faithful from Burundi and Uganda. For this reason the Divine Liturgy was conducted not only in Greek, but also in French, Swahili, Kikuyu, English and Russian.
Before the dismissal of the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude consecrated as a Spiritual Father the Very Reverend Archimandrite Timothy Ntumba who serves in the Bunia area of the eastern Congo and awarded the Office of Hymnographer of the Alexandrian Church to the Missionary Monk Father Damaskinos Gregoriatis, who has been doing missionary work in Burundi for more than ten years and has translated many texts of hymns into Swahili.
He also awarded honorary awards to the Honorable Honorary Consul of Greece in Burundi Mr. George Koukoulis, the Chairman of the Hellenic Community of Bujumbura Mr. Christos Kamberis and to Mrs. Aik. Kratouni.
He then conducted the enthronement of the ne Bishop of Burundi and Rwanda, His Grace Innokentios, who comes from Uganda and succeeded in the leadership of the Holy Diocese, the present Metropolitan of Ghana, His Eminence Savvas. At the same Cathedral 55 years ago, His Eminence Kyprianos the then Metropolitan of Central Africa was also enthroned.
Speaking to the enthroned Bishop His Beatitude said that the Alexandrian Church and the African people expect much from him, but he is sure that he will succeed in worthily bearing the shepherding of this newly-established Holy District of the Throne.
IN his turn, His Grace Bishop Innokentios thanked His Beatitude and the Holy Synod for the honour and the trust they have in him, stressing that he will give his entire being to the service of the suffering people of these two countries, and his main concern will be the organization of practical love and Christian welfare to all, equally.
After the end of the Enthronement and in the courtyard of the Cathedral, His Beatitude attended a function organized by the local Church, with traditional dances and songs.
On the evening of the same day, His Beatitude successfully completed his first pastoral visit to Burundi and departed by air for Kenya, from where he will return to the Patriarchal See in Alexandria within the next few days.
Archim. Meletios Koumanis
